Have you ever wondered why you crave carbs and chocolate the week before your period? Or still do even though you're post period? Or why you suddenly want to curl up on the couch with Netflix instead of hitting the gym? I used to think it was just a lack of willpower, but thanks to the work of Dr. Mindy Pelz, a Fasting expert I'm learning from, I've discovered a whole new world of hormonal knowledge that's blown my mind and how I approach my health and wellbeing.

Forever, I treated every week of my cycle the same. Who knew we needed to tread differently depending on where we are in our cycle? I certainly didn't! I had no idea about our different hormones and their unique needs. It turns out, those cravings aren't a sign of weakness – they're your body's way of supporting progesterone production, which needs higher carbs to be produced effectively. Duh!

As midlife women, we're facing a silent struggle that no one talks about. As a working mum, wife, daughter, caring for aged parents, or empty nester,
we carry the weight of expectations – at work, solving problems and making decisions while trying to keep ourselves ‘together’. At home, we're meant to 'be present', keep the house running, ensure nourishing meals are on the table, and tackle that never-ending pile of laundry.

And then there's you.

Oh wait, you forgot about you, didn't you?

Internally, we're dealing with hormonal changes that hit us like a tonne of bricks. We feel like we're losing our minds, anxiety through the roof, all while trying to look like we've got it all together. We don't want to talk to our friends because surely, we're the only ones struggling, right? (Spoiler alert: we're not!)

Here's the kicker – progesterone, our calming hormone, our anti-anxiety hormone starts tanking as we approach midlife (all our sex hormones do). If we don't honour it, our menopausal symptoms can be so much worse. Those heavy periods? They might be because we didn't slow down and nurture our progesterone the week before. Those severe menopausal symptoms? Yep, that’s the same!

So, what does progesterone need? It craves calm, rest, lower stress and a slower pace. It shows up as that urge to hunker down, to turn inward, to say no to extra commitments. Even if you no longer have a period, it's still vitally important to slow down at some stage during the month. Our bodies continue to have hormonal rhythms that benefit from periods of rest and nurturing.

I'm still on this journey of implementing these change because I’m forever learning. But since I started paying attention to these concepts and adjusting my lifestyle accordingly, I'm feeling so much more relaxed. I’m sleeping better, I don’t have as much anxiety, my energy levels are stable, and I feel way more balanced than I have done for a long time!

If you just take one thing away from reading this today is just give yourself time out to slow down the week before your period. Eat the chocolate (good quality dark chocolate of course) and eat the nature's carbs. Don't intermittent fast (because that causes stress which we don't need at this time) & get to bed earlier. 

Plus, by honouring your cycle and listening to your body's needs, you're not just improving your own health and wellbeing, you're setting an example for the young girls in your life too!

So, the next time you find yourself reaching for that chocolate bar or feeling the urge to cancel plans and stay in, know that it's not a weakness. It's your body's ancient wisdom, whispering to you. Maybe it's time we started listening.

And if you want a day out to truly nourish you and support you, come and join me on Your Delicious Day Out Retreat. It’s not too late to grab a spot at my Tauranga retreat this weekend, 9^th March in Ohauiti, or Auckland on the 23^rd March or Whangarei on the 4^th May.

Lots of love x